Shots Pageant

Shot 13(ii)- A Second Chance?

Shivaay's life

After our kid's play date, which eventually lead to my and Miss Nanda, no, Annika's date, I'll me meeting her for an other one.

It was a Sunday and our kids have gone to their common friend's birthday party. Both Annika and I were free. So we thought to meet for another round of coffee. This time, we have changed our location. We have thought to go for a walk by the beach side. The weather was pleasant and it was not sunny at all. It was cloudy though there were no chances of rain, as the report said.

We drove to Starbucks and got two cold coffees packed for us. There was a silence in the car as Annika was talking over her phone regarding her Holland visit scheduled after two days.

We reached the beach and that is when she disconnected the call.

"I am so sorry, Shivaay", she looked sad.

"Its alright, Annika. Work is important", I knew cause I have kept my toes in her shoes a lot of times. As she was making me wait, sometimes, Anisha also has to wait for my arrival or my work to complete.

We headed to the beach and she removed her slippers, keeping them aside and I followed the suit. We had our coffee mugs with us.

"So I was telling you about Samarth. Actually me and him, we used to work in the same office. He was my senior and I was doing my internship under him. I was an orphan, studying on my scholarship. With time, our professional relationship turned personal and eventually, I moved in with him"

I was really happy. Compared to our previous meeting, Annika is opening herself in front of me. I feel satisfied that she was not uncomfortable with my presence or any thing else. I was understanding her words, looking at how she didn't hesitated or trembled before talking about her boyfriend, ex-boyfriend or late boyfriend.

"We have been living together and I got pregnant when we were almost in the fourth year of our relationship. He was beyond happy when I disclosed my pregnancy to him. He had planned everything for the baby and our future. We never married cause it didn't make any difference in how we live and anything else. His mom was quite okay with us. She was devastated after her son's death but she says that little Samarth reminds her of her son Samarth", Annika smiled.

Okay so she has another person in her life. Her son's grandmother. That is great that she supports her.

"Shivaay, lets play a game", she spoke enthusiastically looking at the waves.

"What?"

"A game. Like the waves come toward us and we need to touch them and return back to the shore before they touch us further", she explained.

I love this game. Though my late wife used to hate thus game a lot. She used to feel that it was kiddish enough. I agreed.

We started with the game, keeping our mugs aside. We played it several times as sometimes she won and sometimes I.

It was the last turn when we tried to rush away from the wave. I saw Annika being fast than me but I don't know what got into me that I fell and pulled her with me.

The very next moment, she was sitting on my lap with her black eyes staring me, as if warning me my death. Her hand were on chest, clenching my shirt's collar that was almost wet. She was looking ethereal. She was so close to me and my body for the very first time. It was magical. I have never felt it before. Not even when my wife was alive. It was a subtle feeling.

"Cheater! Shivaay you are a cheater!", she shouted.

I came out if my hue, "Don't call me that! I am not a cheater!", I yelled back.

"Cheater Cheater Cheater!", she poked my nose.

I did the same and poked her nose, "You Cheater!"

She was silent and was gazing me. I was about to laugh but tried to stop myself. Eventually, both of us laughed out loud. She got off my lap, still laughing and I leaned back, balancing my hands in the sand.

"Kuch Kuch Hota Hai!", we both said together. We were completely fighting like Rahul and Anjali in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai.

"Its my favourite", she smiled brightly.

Was it? We have a lot things in common man!, "Mine too!"

She laughed now, "Really, you know what, Samarth used to hate it. Still I used to make hin sit and watch it with me"

"Ditto, Anisha used to also hate it. I was freak behind this movie", Anisha used to be so mad at me whenever I tell her to watch it.

"Again a common fact!"

We got up. Our clothes were almost wet. Who cares! We began walking further. I thought to tell her about my late wife Anisha.

"So Anisha and I, we had an arranged marriage, insisted by my Dadi. She was the only one I had around me"

"You have a Dadi too?"

"Yeah, she lives in the other city", I told. Dadi visits us sometimes. Anisha is not that close to her but I am.

"So me and Anisha, my wife, we were friends during initial days of our marriage. We proved each other with some space before we take the things ahead. But you know, she used to always pester me about wearing white. I love white and she on contrary, used to like colored, dark shades", I laughed.

Annika looked strangely at me, "I love white too. Infact, Samarth used to hate it too"

Woho, don't you think our lives are not only connected but quite similar too. Our partners died the same day, our kids were born on the same day, our kids carry the name of one of their parent, both of us love Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and White Color. Not to forget, we like the beach game too.

"Strangely similar!", I said.

"Yeah"

"Why didn't you marry again?", I asked.

"Why didn't you?", she asked back.

"I never felt that anyone can take my wife's place in my heart", I answered truthfully.

"You need not give the girl your wife's place, Shivaay. Create a new space for her".

She was right. I cane create a new space, in fact, I have already started making one. To be honest, she had started making one, "I'll try to find someone who loves my little Anisha the way you do", I tried to drop a hint.

She smiled a bit, suppressing it the next moment.

"Now tell why didn't you?"

"Samarth's mom insists me a lot. I have not found someone yet", she answered.

I don't want her to marry someone else. I didn't said something.

"I'll try to find someone who loves my little Samarth the way you love him"

Oh my god! Was she dropping a hint? I didn't had guts to ask that.

We had already reached the spot where we had discarded our slippers. We thought to reach to pick our kids up from the party. We decided to host a join birthday party for both of them.

I dropped Annika and Samarth back at their homes and drove me and Anisha back at our place.

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Just because of your all requests, I extended this story which was open ended from my side. Next part, the last part will be there soon.